[ND-Talk] Notes from Our National President

Tue Jul 23 16:32:57 UTC 2019

Hello All:

Find below the entire text of this weeks Presidential Notebook sent to all
affiliate Presidents. I'm sharing this with you all.

Milton Ota, President

National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota

4273 Coventry Dr., S., Unit E

Fargo, ND 58104-4498

(701) 731-0511 (Cell)

Mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:Mota1252 at gmail.com>  (E-mail)

President's Notebook

National Federation of the Blind

Mark A. Riccobono

officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

What an incredible convention of the National Federation of the Blind: big,
bold, beautiful, and boisterous. It was also warm, welcoming, and incredibly
productive. Thank you to each of you for your role in making this a
successful family reunion that almost set the record for biggest convention
ever. We will see if Houston, which has not hosted us since 1971, can get it
done in 2020.

I have been busy talking to many of you and collecting information since our
convention ended. If you have ideas or feedback related to the convention,
please share them with me. Furthermore, if there were things that I should
know about related to the convention, I am prepared to receive that
information. Some thought I was not in the office last week, but I was in
fact here first thing on Monday morning.

There are several things to share this week. Here are a few bullet points:

*    Convention content will be posted soon to the website. You can already
find the presidential report
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/presidential-reports/preside
ntial-report-2019> and banquet speech
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/banquet-speeches/choice-expl
oration-and-resistance-road-freedom> there-thanks to those who have already
shared this content in social media. As you know, our resolutions
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2019-resolutions
> are also posted.

*    Read below for a new effort to help teach prospective members about the
Federation.

*    This week is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It
is a great time to remind Congress of our priorities.

*    If your affiliate made pledges during the honor roll call at the
convention, please fulfill those as soon as possible.

I hope everyone enjoys the balance of the summer.

News:

Open-House Gatherings:
Many people do not know the National Federation of the Blind, and they are
reluctant to attend a local chapter meeting where they may have their
questions answered. We will be hosting teleconferences for individuals that
are curious about the National Federation of the Blind. The teleconference
will present them with an opportunity to receive information from and ask
questions of Federationists. We will be able to dispel the myths and
misconceptions about the NFB and highlight the benefits of membership. These
calls are specifically intended for individuals who are curious about our
organization and would benefit from learning about us in an educational
environment. Chapters and affiliates should share this invitation on their
social media and disseminate it with anyone who may be interested in
joining.  

The calls will take place on the third Sunday of each even numbered month
and the third Wednesday of each odd numbered month. Our first two calls will
be Sunday, August 18, at 4:00 p.m. eastern and Wednesday, September 18, at
8:00 p.m. eastern. We would like to keep the list of participants small
enough so that it will be impactful. Therefore, in order to participate,
individuals will need to RSVP by emailing membership at nfb.org
<mailto:membership at nfb.org> or calling 410-659-9314, extension 2509, and let
us know which call date works best for them. Individuals selected to
participate will receive the call-in information. 

Urgent Request for Support from the NFB of the UK:
Thank you to those of you who have reached out about the request for support
from the NFB of the UK. We are dealing with this policy request at the
national level. You can ignore the request or let them know to work with me
at the national level.

ADA Anniversary this Friday:
This Friday, July 26, is the twenty-ninth anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act. There are a number of ways to celebrate or educate your
community on the ADA <https://www.adaanniversary.org/>. Along with
celebration, we must also know there is still work to be done. We continue
to repeal Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and we continue to
fight for equal access to the internet and to workplace technology. Share
information about the National Federation of the Blind Legal Program
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program> to new members or members
who may not be aware. There is support and resources to prevent and report
discrimination, connect with legal resources in your area, and advocate for
your legal rights. 

National Convention 2020:
It isn't too early to start planning for next year. For those who missed the
big announcement, share the 2020 promo
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/2020-convention/2020-announcement.mp3>
now! The 2020 National Convention will be held June 29-July 5 in Houston,
Texas, at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, located in the heart of
downtown. Mark your calendars today. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*      February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins

*      March 26-27, 2020: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium, Baltimore,
Maryland

*      June 29-July 5, 2020: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org
<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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